It's still winter, but here at my Bedford, New York farm, it's feeling a little like spring - and the animals are happy, especially my five fun-loving donkeys - Rufus, Billie, Clive, Jude “JJ” Junior, and Truman “TJ” Junior.
Yesterday, with temperatures rising to 50-degrees Fahrenheit, the donkeys got to spend a little more time in their paddock just outside my stable. This quintet loves the outdoors where they can frolic and bray. In the late afternoon, the five are brought back inside, where they are groomed and fed.
Enjoy these photos.
The erratic weather in the Northeast continues. We’re expecting temperatures in the 50s for the next couple of days. Yesterday, the donkeys were very playful and ran as soon as someone came near. This is Truman “TJ” Junior – he’s about six years old and very charming.
Donkeys are herd animals, so they are often seen together in one group. Here are my five donkeys – Jude “JJ” Junior, Billie, Rufus, Clive in the back, and “TJ” on the far right.
Ideally, the outdoor space should consist of donkey-safe grazing pasture, and at least half an acre of land per donkey – more if possible. My donkeys have a very large paddock where they can run, play, and roll to their hearts’ content.
Whenever someone comes near, the donkeys start walking over to say hello. Do you know… a donkey is capable of hearing another donkey from up to 60 miles away in the proper conditions? They have a great sense of hearing, in part because of their large ears.
Here are “TJ” and “JJ” at the fence gate hoping for treats. The donkey’s sense of smell is considered to be similar to the horse. Donkeys greet each other by smelling and blowing in each other’s nose. The smell of breath imparts important information to the donkey.
Here they are running around the paddock – wherever one goes, the others follow.
When the weather is wet or windy, donkeys need access to a warm and dry shelter. A run-in is essential for donkeys. Donkeys originated in a desert climate, but are very hardy, provided they are given adequate accommodations.
And they’re off again – Billie, Rufus, and “TJ” in the distance.
There is an automatic waterer in every paddock that is checked every day to ensure it is in good working order. During the winter, when the grass is dead, or at other times of year when there’s not enough, we also give them good quality meadow hay in their paddock mangers.
The important thing is to keep the donkeys from overeating. Eating too much protein and other nutrient-rich foods can make them sick. They also tend to gain weight very easily. I am very glad these donkeys are active and enjoy running in their enclosure.
The donkey or ass is a domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, E. africanus. The donkey has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years.
Here they go around the paddock again. At the fastest, a fit donkey can run up to 15 miles per hour. They are also quite vocal. Donkeys have a two-toned call that sounds pretty comical. In English, the sound is called braying.
By late afternoon, the donkeys are brought inside to their stalls, where they are groomed and fed. Helen and Dolma walk them in at the same time. Donkeys bond very closely with the others in their herd, so these five are always kept close together.
One always knows it’s afternoon because the peacocks and peahens are out and about.
Inside, the donkey stalls are all clean with fresh shavings.
Billie and “JJ” are in one stall, while the three males are in another. All the donkeys have very different and fun personalities. And look closely, Donkeys usually have a dark stripe of fur down their backs and across their shoulders and can be born with a wide range of colors.
“TJ” and the others are all eagerly awaiting their dinner. “TJ” hopes it comes soon. Donkeys are generally calm, intelligent, and have a natural inclination to like people. Donkeys show less obvious signs of fear than horses. In fact, “TJ” always seeks attention and interaction.
Here’s Truman with his front up on a platform looking through the bars of his stall to see what’s going on in the stall next door. He always makes sure “his girls” are okay.
Yes, “TJ”, they’re just fine. Billie and “JJ” are the only females, or jennies, in my stable. Male donkeys are known as jacks.
Using a hoof pick, Dolma carefully picks out the dirt and mud from Clive’s hooves. This is done with each donkey and horse every day. Dolma also goes over their coats with a curry brush to remove any debris and dirt.
And then Dolma wipes all their faces clean with a washcloth. Grooming every day allows Dolma to check for any abnormalities such as cuts, scrapes, or other skin irritations, etc. And, they seem to enjoy it.
Finally, it’s dinner time. Donkeys require a diet low in protein, sugar, and starch, but high in fiber.
But it’s always petting time to a donkey. Here’s Rufus waiting for a good ear rub – or maybe even a cookie.
Another outdoor chore is checked off the list - my crew is getting so much done.
My Bedford, New York farm sits on 153 acres of pastures, woodlands, and gardens. Every day, I tour the entire property to visit my animals and to make sure everything is in excellent working order. I also assess the many groves and allees, and discuss with my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew what needs to be done. It's an important part of my day and an important part of maintaining this working farm. One day this week, the team tackled the area behind my tennis court. They pruned the hydrangeas and "limbed up" the spruce trees.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
In late summer, the area behind my tennis court is filled with blooming white hydrangeas – the flowers are so big, they can be seen from the carriage road.
This is how it looks from a distance. This photo was taken last August. I started planting hydrangea shrubs many years ago and they’ve always bloomed so profusely from year to year.
The following photos were taken when these stunning hydrangeas were in bloom. Hydrangea is a genus of at least 70-species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas. The Hydrangea “flower” is really a cluster of flowers called a corymb.
Panicle hydrangeas are known for their cone shaped flower heads. These large blooms typically start white and may turn a slight pink. All the paniculatas are very cold hardy.
And here is a hydrangea that blooms with lovely lacecaps. The lacecap is very similar to the mophead, but instead of growing round clusters of showy blossoms, this hydrangea grows flowers that resemble flat caps with frilly edges.
This time of year, the hydrangea flower heads that don’t fall off are dry and brown and can remain through the season if not removed.
Hydrangeas should be pruned in late winter or early spring, before the shrub begins any active growth. Here, one can see one side pruned and the other still to be done.
Domi snips off spent blooms just below the flower head and removes any wayward or straggly canes.
As with any pruning job, it is important to remove any dead, diseased, damaged or crossing stems. These hydrangeas are quite tall, so Chhiring uses a a long-reach pole pruner.
To maintain a tidy appearance, Chhiring cuts everything at the same level so there is consistent shape to the shrubs.
Here, the cut in the center was made last year, resulting in more vigorous growth. The outer cuts were just done.
After a few hours, all of them were pruned. The hydrangeas look so good and level. With proper care, they will continue to bloom profusely for many years.
Behind the hydrangeas and the tennis court is a grove of spruce trees. Some of these trees were actually moved from the other side of the tennis court some years ago to create a privacy barrier. Over the years, they’ve grown so much and look so beautiful.
Evergreens such as these don’t need a lot of pruning at all, and their sweeping lower branches can be left alone, but I wanted some to be “limbed-up” for better light to the plantings below, a better view under the trees, and easier access for my off-road Polaris vehicles and mowers.
The best time to prune evergreens is from late winter to early spring, well before any new growth will take off for the new season. Here, Pasang uses this telescoping pole pruner from STIHL. It has a quiet, zero-exhaust emission, and is very lightweight. Plus, with an adjustable shaft, the telescoping pole pruner can cut branches up to 16 feet above the ground.
It is important to always use sharp tools whenever pruning so that the cuts are clean. Dull tools are difficult to use and could even damage the tree. A straight, clean-cut promotes quick healing of the wound and reduces stress on the specimen.
All the branches are collected and neatly piled. They will be loaded onto the dump truck and taken to our collection area for the chipper.
After the spruce trees were done, there is ample light through the trees and a clear view.
Here is a view of my tennis court in winter – everything is covered with snow and ice. Today’s temperatures are expected to be in the high 40s – good for melting.
And here’s another heart – I wonder who made it? A good reminder that Valentine’s Day is just four days away.
It’s always so exciting when we have babies at the farm - this time, fluffy, little chicks.
Last month, I attended the 2022 Northeastern Poultry Congress - a poultry show held every year in Springfield, Massachusetts. The event features more than 2500 birds, including large fowl, waterfowl, turkeys, pigeons, Guineas, and of course, a variety of wonderful breed chickens. While there, I purchased 18 chickens and 46 Silkie eggs. So far, 11 healthy chicks have hatched - all in special incubators set up in my Stable feed room.
Enjoy these photos.
Down at the stable, we set up our incubating and hatching equipment from GQF Manufacturing, Inc. in Savannah, Georgia – a company that specializes in game bird and poultry supplies. There are several crucial conditions needed for proper embryo development in all birds. These factors include: proper temperature, controlled humidity, and sufficient air circulation.
The eggs are placed into the incubator where they are safe from other birds and closely monitored until they hatch. Chicken eggs take 21-days. While the eggs incubate, they are automatically turned once a day, 45-degrees each way, back and forth during this period.
From days 17 to 21, they’re placed into the hatching cabinet, where it is still warm. Each egg has its own section, where it safe and cannot roll during the hatching process.
Meanwhile, my stable manager, Helen, who is also very experienced in raising chickens, sets up my large antique bird cage for all the chicks.
A heat lamp is placed into the cage to keep it warm.
Towels are used to line the floor – this will provide good footing for the babies. The chicks are fed organic chick starter for the first six to eight weeks.
And fresh, clean water is always provided. In fact, every chick is personally shown where their food and water sources are, so they know where to find it.
Here is a close look at one of the peeps just starting to break through its shell.
The next day, the first of 11 peeps emerges – it’s nothing short of adorable.
Now, we currently have 11-chicks doing excellently in their enclosure.
They are all up and about and playing and interacting with each other. They also peck at each other playfully.
There are eight Silkie color varieties accepted by the American Poultry Association. They include black, blue, buff, gray, partridge, splash, and white.
Baby chicks need constant monitoring until they are at least a month old. Here in the Stable feed room, they are checked several times a day. This room is also free from drafts. Chicks require an air temperature of 95 degrees during the first week, 90 degrees the second week, and so on – going down by around five degrees per week until they’re ready to transition to the coop.
These chicks hatched within hours of each other, which is good, so they are not lonely.
All these chicks have clear eyes and are very alert – signs of good health.
Here is one of the black Silkie chicks – notice, Silkies have black eyes. The buff Silkie on the right is falling asleep.
It is always nice to see such a strong and energetic group of babies. Silkies grow a bit more slowly than other breeds. They are also slower to mature. Silkie hens start laying at approximately seven to nine months of age.
Remember these adolescent Silkies I brought home from the same show? These four are doing very well.
If you’re unfamiliar with Silkies, they were originally bred in China. Underneath all that feathering, they have black skin and bones and five toes instead of the typical four on each foot. Silkie chickens are known for their characteristically fluffy plumage said to feel silk- or satin-like to the touch.
Silkies are also adaptable, playful, and friendly. And, they are naturally more calm than most other breeds.
I wonder what their conversations are like. In general, chickens are quite vocal. They make around 30 different calls to communicate with each other, expressing everything from “I am hungry” to “there’s a predator nearby.”
Here, one can see their grayish-blue beaks, which are short and quite broad at the base.
I am so pleased with all my Silkies – they are strong, healthy, and happy. They will all be great additions to my flock.
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